Coal-cutting machine



00L I E. F. MULLER 1,777,621

COAL CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l O '7, 1930. E. F. MULLER 1,777,621

- COAL CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1927 5 Sheets-{Sheet 2 7 O 7, 930 E. F. MULLER 1,777,621

COAL CUTTING MACHINE Filegl Aug. 16, 192 3 ShQQtQ-SHOQt 3 The present invention relates to certain{ new and useful linprovem'entsin coal cutting;

Patented Oct. 7, 1930 IT MW PATENT, OFFICE z nnnsjr Fnonon MU LnnQoF comnvmus, 01 Assrenon To THE JEFFREY MAN Q p j FACTURING COMPANY, on COLUMBUS, onIo, A CORPORATION or 011m Y Conn-corn ce MACHINE Application filed August s, 1927. Serial No. 213,342.

machine of the type adaptedto travel along chargetlie material removed. therefrom be- The especialiobiect is to provide, in a ma chine of the class described, automatically 19H acting means to move the slack conveyor relamechanism.

tivetothe mining machine frame'to thereby avoid roof supporting props positioned adacentthepath of feeding movementmf the mach ne,

and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing wherein vFig. l'is an end elevation otacoal cutting machme of; well known desrgn equ ppedwlth thedevices o'ljmy invention.

Fig.2 is planview of the maehineoillus trated' in Fig. 1.

.Fig."3 isajfragmentary plan view, on: an

enlarged scale, ot-the lower portion of I the machine frame, the upperpart being removed to reveal the slack conveying mechanism.

Fig. a lS' t sectional View taken along the I i automatically acting cable reel 13. Allotline IVE-11V of 3; l 1 i Fig 51 is a sectional 1 view taken along the Fig.6 is afldiagrammatic vievv, ofth efconveyer'elementr i l Fig.1 is a detail of Fig; 8 is a diagram illustrating the method of operation of the machine. 7

Like numerals referto similar parts in the.

several figures. j 1 InJthe drawing 1 and vertically adjustable relative thereto,

main frame o'f the cutting mechanism of the chi R g y t a o an pr jec i es;

ispeedsyone a relatively highispeed suitable for moving the machine fromone Working the conveyor moving H I have shown, for purposes of illustration, a mining machineiot the Well knowni Arcwall' :type, comprising a truck H frame 1 mountednpontrack Wheels 2 which rest upon and travel along the rails 3, ofxa mine track. Positioned above thetruck frame arm 6 about the edges of which travels a cut:

ter chain in the usualand Well known manacoal faceto cut a kerf therein and to disactuate the cutter chainf Feeding mechanism,

also actuated by the motor 8, is arranged to causerotation of the cutter arm 6 about the axis of the turntable 5. Formed in the edges of the-turntable 5 are notches 9 adapted to be engaged by bolts 10 securedto the supporting ring 4: whereby the cutter arm 6 may be 5:: a I locked in any preferred angular relation 5 The means-.Whjereby-I attain this object are, fully set forth in the following specification to the longitudinal lines of ithe machine. Mounted upon the truckframe 1 is a motor With the track Wheels 2-to propel the ma chine alongthe traclcrails-3 at either of two place to another, and the other a relatively lowspeed suitable to feed the cutting mech-f I anism during the cuttingoperation. Electric current for the actuation of the motors 8 and 11 is received troma suitable sourceof eleo' ductor cable 12 Whichis 'wi-ndable upon an the above described devices are Well under- ;:stood in the mining machineart and further descrip ion or illustration llSIlQt thought to be requiredat this time. p A o o l In the system of coal mining. for which my present invention is especially adapted the track rails 3 are :laid parallel to and adjacent tl le coal facepreparatory to beginning the mining operation. A series of roof supporting props ltis positioned adjacent the mine trackat the side remote from the coal face, to protect the miningmachine-and the men employed in its operation. In orderato effect. maximumprotection themine propsl i are placed as close to the mine track as is possible without obstructing passage of the mining machine, The mining machine is then brought into position: upon the track 3, and

the cutter arm 6 turned to a suitable angle to engagethe coal face to form a kerf therein as theimachine advances; at its' lower speed trio current supply through afiexible com 1 of tractive propulsion. When operating in this manner the coal cuttings produced by the cutter chain 7 fall from the mouth of the kerf and, if not otherwise disposed of, accumulate upon the mine floor between the coal face and the track 3 in sufficient quantities to interfere with movement of the mining machine. I have therefore provided conveying devices upon the mining machine frame adapted to receive the cuttings as they fall from the cutter chain, transport them across the machine frame, and discharge them at a suitable distance beyond the mine track, and

.veyor frame comprising the side rails 15 engages a compression spring 15";

joined together near their end by the con necting plates-l6 and 17. This conveyor frame is pivotally attached to the truck frame 1, at the side of the machine adjacent the coal face, by a pivot bolt 18; Rollers19 attached to the side rails 15 supply antifrictionsupp'orts for the conveyor at the opposite side of the truck to facilitate movement of the conveyor frame aboutthe pivot bolt 18. Arod 15 attached to the side rails 15 on the forward side of the conveyor frame relative to the feeding movement of the cutting apparatus, is fitted with'a nut 15 which The spring 15 abuts against an angle 15 fixed to the truck frame, and tends to move the con- 7 veyor frame forwardly about its pivot bolt endless conveyor belt 28 which is adapted to receive'the cuttingsas theyfall from the'cut-' 18, and to maintain it in its foremost position of angular adjustment. "The side rails 15 are preferably formed of channel bars upon the outwardly turned flanges of which bear the traction rollers 20 which support an extension frame 21 for longitudinal movement relative to the main conveyor frame. Suit-j, ably supported in journal bearings attached to the main frame are the pulleys 24 and 25, and similarpulleys 26 and 27 are similarly mounted in the extensionframe 21; Laced around the pulleys 24, '25, 26 and 27 is an ter chain 7-,'tra'nsport them across the machine and discharge "them beyond the side of the machine remote from the ,coal face and ata suitable distance beyond the track. A spring 23 abutting against the end of the extension frame21 engages the nut 22 fixed to therod'22 which is attached to the journal bearing'27 and tends to move the roller 27 inwardlyto'maintain suitable tension in the-conveyor belt28; Power for'the actuation'ofthe conveyor belt 28is derived from a motor 29 mounted upon the extension plate) 'windable upon a winding drum 43. V drum 43 is ournaledfor free rotation upon 30 of the truck frame 1. The motor 29 is preferably an electric motor and received its actuating current'from the flexible cable 12 through suitable conductors, and is controlled by suitable controlling devices, but as such devices 'are well understood in the mining machine art, and as they form no part in the present invention, their illustration and description is not thought to be required at this time. The motor 29 is provided with the customary armature pinion 31 which-engages a spur gear 32 fixed to a countershaft 33 journaled' in bearings formed upon the motor frame. To the countershaft 33 is fixed a universal oint 34 which drives a telescoping shaft 35 the opposite end of which is connected to a second universal joint 36 with a short shaft 37 mounted in a journal'bearing attached to the frame of the conveyor. To the shaft 37 is fixed a sprocket wheel 38 connected by an endless chain 39 with a sprocket wheel 40 fixed'to the shaft 41 of the driving pulley 24'. By the arrangement of parts above described power may be transmitted from the motor 29 to actuate the conveyor belt 28 in all positions of its pivotal movement about the pivot bolt 18;

Attached-to the extension conveyor frame 21 near its inner end and at its rearward siderelative to the direction offeedingmovementof the machine, is a rope 42 extending substantially parallel to] the longitudinal line of the conveyor and attached to and The the stationary stud shaft 44 fixed to the truck frame A second rope 45 attached to the sidebar 15 of the main conveyor frame near its outer'end and at the forward side of the conveyor, passes around the guide sheaves 46 and 47 and is attached to and windableupon a windingdrum 48 which is rigidly connected with the drum 43 and concentric therewith. The winding drums 43 v and 48 are ofdifferent diameters the proportion and arrangement of parts being such that a relatively small rearward movement of the conveyor frame about the pivotbolt 18 will draw "out the rope 45 from its winding drum 48 thereby causing rotation of the drum 43 to wind the rope 42 and produce a relatively great inward'movement of the extension frame 21 longitudinally of the side rails'15. I r 7 As the machine 7 tracks 3 the extension frame 21 will be brought successively into contact with the roof jsupporting props 14 causing the con-' i veyor frame to swingrearwardly about thepivot bolt 18.

A guard member 49 attached to the extension frame 21 serves to protect the conveyor belt 28 from contact with the roof prop 14. An apron 50 adapted to contact with "the mine'face and to slide'therealong advances along the mine tension frame. inwardly and actuated by out-- ward movement ,of the "extension frame to move the conveyor frame'pivotally forward as and for the purpose set forth.

i 9. The combination with a mining machine movable along a'coal face and having a cutter 1 1 313. The combination withfia niining maf adapted to kerf the face during such movement, of a conveyor adapted to receive the slack during the cutting operation, said conveyor extending transversely of the machine with'its delivery end projecting beyond the side thereof remote from the mine face, said conveyor being axially movable to clear its delivery end of obstructions in the path thereof, and automatically acting means to return the conveyor to normal position.

I 10.; The combination with a mining machine movable along a coal face and having a cutter adapted to-kerf'the face during such movement, of aconveyor'adapted to receive the slack during the cutting operation, said conveyor extending transversely'of the machine withitsdelivery end projecting beyond the side thereof remote fromthe mine face,

means to axially retract the delivery end of said 'conveyo'r'to clear obstructions in its path, and automatically acting means to return the conveyor to normal position.

11. Thecombination with a mining machine movable along a coal face and having a cutter adapted to kerf the face during such movement, of a conveyor adapted to receive the slack during thecutting operation, said conveyor extending transversely ofthe machine with its deliveryjen'dprojecting beyond the side'thereof remote from the mine face, and means to contract the conveyor to clear its delivery end of obstructions in the path thereof.

12.;The combination with a'mining ma chine movable'along a coal face and'ha'ving acutter'adapted to kerf the'face duringsuch movement, 'of a conveyor adapted to receive the slack- "during the cutting operation, said conveyor extending transversely of'the machine with its delivery-endprojecting beyondth'e side thereof remote from the mine face, and means operated by contact'of'the deliveryend. ofithe conveyor with obstructions'in the path thereof. to move said end inwardly of the machine.

chine movable along a coal face and having a cutter adapted to kerf'the'face during such movement, of a conveyor adapted to receive the slack during the cutting operation,-said conveyor extending transversely of the machine with its delivery end projecting beyond the side thereofremote from the mine face, a pivota'l'coimection between the machine and'conveyor about which the latter is adapted toswing upon contact of its delivery end with obstructions in the path thereof, and means-operated independence upon such "swinging movement to axially retract said delivery end.

' l lf The combination with amining machine movable along a cOal face and having a cutteradaptedto kerf the face during such movement, of a conveyor adapted to receive the slack during the cutting operation,flsaid conveyor extending transversely of the machine with its delivery'end projecting beyond the side thereof remote from the mine face, a pivotal connection between the mach ine and conveyor about which the latter is adapted to swing upon contact of its deliveryend with an' obstruction in the path thereof, means to multiply such swinging movement, and means to axially retract said conveyor in dependence upon the-multiplied movement.

15; The combination with a mining chine movable along a coal'face and having a cutter adaptedto kerf the face during such end, and means to restoreithe conveyor to its normal transverse position.

The combination with a conveyor hav ing a main pivotally mounted frame and an extension frame axially adjustable relative to the main frame, ofgconnecting means'between said frames whereby a swinging movement of the main frame causes "a retractive movement of the extensionframe. 17. "The combination with 'a conveyor having a main pivotallymounted frame and an extension frame axially adjustable relative to the main frame, of connecting meansbe tween said frames whereby a swinging movement of the main frame causes a-retractive movement of the extension frame, and multiplying means in'said connecting means, for the purpose described. r 1 I In testimony whereof I have hereunto set mylmnd.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,777,621. Granted October 7, 1930, to

ERNST FEODOR MULLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 50, claim 11, for the word "contract" read teliscope; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of December, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

- Patent No. 1,777,621.

Granted October 7, 1930, to

ERNST FEODOR MULLER.

It is hereby certified that in C 1930, the misspelledword "telis tificate may conform to the reco Signed and sealed this 6th day of (Seal) M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

